Charge: Stranger tried to abduct Seattle woman on her way to work

Published 9:39 pm, Tuesday, March 5, 2013

A Seattle man accused of groping a woman and tearing out her earrings during a random attack downtown has been charged with attempted kidnapping and a sex offense.

King County prosecutors contend Timothy P. Ewald tried to abduct the woman as she walked to work early on Feb. 23. Ewald, 24, is alleged to have told police he “wanted” the woman, whom he’d never met previously.

Walking to work shortly before 6 a.m., the woman was approached by Ewald on Olive Way. According to charging documents, Ewald attempted to strike up a conversation with the woman and would not be turned away.

The woman attempted to walk away from Ewald after he made a suggestive comment to her, a Seattle Police detective told the court. Ewald is alleged to have chased her down and grabbed her in the 1000 block of Olive Way.

Groping the woman as she reached for her pepper spray, Ewald was still struggling with her when Seattle Police patrol officers spotted them, the detective told the court. According to police, Ewald refused to let go of the woman and was forced to the ground by the officers.

The woman told police she feared Ewald planned to drag her somewhere out of sight and rape her, the detective continued. Arriving at the station, Ewald admitted he planned to have sex with the woman.